Three Things Thursday

It’s time again for Three Things Thursday, the purpose of which is to “share three things from the previous week that made you smile or laugh or appreciate the awesome of your life.”

Earlier this week my husband and I stopped in at a nearby store, Tacoma Boys:

5602 6th Ave
Tacoma, WA 98406
(253) 756–0902

Tacoma Boys describes itself as “like a treasure hunt of good things you won’t find in big box stores.” We almost always find something unusual there, but this week interesting produce was abundant. Here are three examples.

1. Hachiya Persimmons

According to the folks at Specialty Produce, the Hachiya persimmon, also known as Beekeeper, is one of more than 200 known species of persimmons. When fully ripe, the skins of Hachiya persimmons are a deep orange, and the flesh is an even deeper orange. The fruit is very sweet.

Hachiya persimmons are available in winter. They are one of the most widely cultivated persimmon varieties in California.

2. Rainbow Carrots

While not as exotic as the Hachiya persimmons, this bunch of carrots caught my eye. I had seen purple carrots a few times before, but I had never seen this variety of colors assembled into a bunch. Aren’t they pretty?

3. Buddha’s Hand

This was the most unusual find of all.

I had never seen or heard of Buddha’s Hand. Once again, the folks at Specialty Produce have it covered: “Buddha’s Hand citron, AKA bushukan (Japanese) or fingered citron, produces deep lemon yellow fruits that vary in shape and size.” Their description says that the flesh is inedible but the oily rind, which is “powerfully fragrant and aromatic,” is valued for its zesting properties. “Buddha’s Hand citron flavor is described as a unique blend of bitter and sweet, similar to kumquats and tangerines, with lavender notes and a bright lemon highlight.”

The peak season for Buddha’s Hand is late fall to early winter. The plant developed within the lower Himalayan mountains and was introduced into California in the late 19th century. However, it did not begin to demonstrate commercial success until the late 20th and early 21st centuries.

An article in Smithsonian Magazine, appropriately titled What the Heck Do I Do With a Buddha’s Hand?, gives a short history of the fruit and offers several suggestions for how to use this “creepy lemon hand.” The suggestions include links to recipes.

Until next week, I wish you all a huge does of awesomeness in your lives.